Wei Yolk Loke

[Affinity tapped as preferred bidder for SK Rent-a-Car] SK Networks has chosen Affinity Equity Partners, a private equity fund headquartered in Hong Kong, as its preferred bidder for the sale of its ownership stake in SK Rent-a-Car, the nation's No. 2 rental car service company. SK Networks intends to divest all of its shares in an estimated deal worth some 850 billion won ($613 million). Both parties plan to conduct due diligence before finalizing the contract, SK Networks said in a regulatory filing Tuesday. Following the merger of AJ Rent-a-Car with SK Networks' rental car business in 2019, SK Rent-a-Car quickly became the second largest player in Korea's car rental market, trailing only Lotte Rental. At the time, SK Networks purchased a 42 percent stake in AJ Rent-a-Car for 300 billion won and rebranded to SK Rent-A-Car a year later. Tap below to read full story. #SKNetworks #RentaCar #AJ #merge #private #equity #sold #rebrand #car #rentall #contract https://lnkd.in/g6sUxTYM

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OUE REIT announced on Tuesday (Apr 23) that it has secured an unsecured sustainability-linked loan of S$600 million. The funds will be used for early refinancing of existing secured borrowings totaling S$540 million due in 2025 and for general corporate purposes. OCBC served as the sole mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, and sustainability coordinator for the transaction. This marks OUE Reit's first sustainability-linked loan, underscoring its commitment to reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to FY2023 levels. The new facility extends the average debt term to 3.1 years as of Dec 31, 2023, with the proportion of unsecured debt rising significantly to 86.7% post-refinancing. #GreenFinance #SustainableFinance #SustainabilityLinkedLoan #Sustainability #REIT #RealEstate I The Business Times I SPH Media I Yifan Zhao I Lippo Group I OUE Limited

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Tricia Song, Head of Research for Singapore and Southeast Asia, analyses March’s private home sales figures. In March, sales reached 1,175 units, marking a 7.6% increase from Q4 2023's 1,092 units and signalling positive momentum for the quarter. However, this figure remains 6.4% lower than the same period last year. Despite tepid overall sales, selected projects with superior attributes and realistic price points outperformed the market. Read more on The Business Times: https://cbre.co/3xxaPD4 #CBREInsights #realestate #Singaporeproperty #privateresidential #markettrends

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My latest Sing Tao Daily column article on the “new normal” of the property market in the “post-spicy measures era”. #SingTao #propertymarket #newnormal #postspicymeasures #後辣招時代的樓市生態

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This issuance represents an important debt capital market strategy to smoothen OUE REIT’s debt maturity profile, manage our hedging ratio and cost of debt. It positions OUE REIT well for a shallower rate cut cycle. #ouereit #greennotes #investmentgrade #sustainability #greenfinancing

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[Colliers VAS Update] 11 sites may be up for tender in 2024: 8 residential, 2 commercial and an industrial. Only 4 are new. How will this conservative approach affect Hong Kong's mid-term property goals?   The 2024-25 Land Sale Programme site list was recently released. We analysed the sites that made it and those that didn't. Check it out in our website. #Landsales #ResidentialHK #LandpriceHK #GovernmentBudget #2024LandProgramme #ColliersHK #ValuationandAdvisory 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/gDYBduqu

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On TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) 今日有樓睇 to present Knight Frank's Global Super-Prime Intelligence 2024 Q1 report. Hong Kong's super prime residential sales performed well in the 12 months into Q1 this year. The upsurge in super luxury home sales in Hong Kong was due to a discounted price by 5-10% from the previous peak and the uplift of cooling measures. There has been increasing demand coming from overseas buyers and investors who are interested in acquiring trophy assets at a low price. However, the high volume of sales might not be able to sustain amid limited purchasing power unless we are seeing a cut in interest rates in the second half of the year. For the report: https://lnkd.in/gzfpE_6P For my commentary: https://lnkd.in/gjbjnA9Y

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Read this insightful article by TODAY Singapore on the mixed experiences of purchasing property in Johor. For some, it has been a rewarding decision, while others have faced challenges navigating the market. 🏠🌏 Faizul Ridzuan stresses the importance of viewing the Johor property market through a local lens rather than a Singaporean one. This perspective can make all the difference in making informed and successful investments. In this edition of The Big Read, journalist Amanda Yeap delves deep into the topic with our CEO. His expertise sheds light on the intricacies of the Johor property market and offers practical advice for prospective buyers. Check out the full article to learn more about the opportunities and pitfalls of investing in Johor property [Link in the comments below] #JohorProperty #RealEstate #Investment #TheBigRead #TODAYSingapore #FARCapital #FaizulRidzuan #PropertyMarketInsights

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In this last of our article series on Hong Kong housing, we talk about the importance and future positioning of government subsidised sale flats. Our analysis showed that Hong Kong’s housing supply for the past two decades has seen an M-shaped pattern, with subsidised sale flats (SSFs) accounting for only about 15% of the total housing stock. Yet, nearly 38% of households are eligible for SSFs based on their income levels. Therefore, we propose to increase the supply of SSFs to further enhance the housing ladder and promote upward social mobility. However, recent sale experiences have shown that the selling price of SSFs often falls behind market changes, resulting in a low take-up rate. Small units have also been unpopular, with units of less than 300 square feet accounting for the majority of unsold units and cases of forfeitures. To increase the attractiveness of future SSFs, the government should be more flexible in its pricing strategy and increase the size of newly completed units. Hong Kong Economic Journal: https://bit.ly/3UZKdCH #housingladder #SubsidisedSaleFlats #SSFs #HomownershipScheme #HOS #GreenFormSubsidisedHomeOwnershipScheme #GSH

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🔥 Mapletree Anson Divestment: A Strategic Move for MPACT's Future 📈 In a bold move, Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust (MPACT) has announced the divestment of Mapletree Anson, a prime office asset in Tanjong Pagar, for a whopping $775 million. This strategic sale not only unlocks value but also strengthens MPACT's financial position for future growth. 💰 The divestment proceeds will be used to reduce MPACT's debt, lowering its aggregate leverage ratio from 40.5% to 37.6%. This financial flexibility will enable MPACT to navigate market dynamics with greater agility and seize emerging opportunities. 🏢 While Mapletree Anson's divestment reduces MPACT's Singapore asset exposure, the REIT remains committed to its core strategy, with Singapore assets contributing over half of its portfolio value through iconic properties like VivoCity mall and Mapletree Business City. 💭 As the office market continues to evolve, driven by changing workplace dynamics and technological advancements, MPACT's strategic move positions it to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing real estate landscape. What are your thoughts on the future of office spaces and the role of REITs in shaping the commercial real estate market? #MPACT #MapletreeAnson #OfficeMarket #REITStrategy #CommercialRealEstate 🗺️🏗️🏫🏪🏭🏬🏣🏢🏘️🏦 👋 I am Trevor Soon, 🏆 Top Real Estate Voice & Top 5% Realtor. 👨‍💼 Senior Leader Connecting Developers, Professionals & Investors for Growth. 💡 Empowering Real Estate Investment with Emotional Resilience. 🤝 Let's connect and explore how we can win together!

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The transformation of Jurong East is a testament to the dynamic urban development and forward-thinking planning in Singapore. With the recent announcement of the Tang Dynasty city site's conversion to residential use, we are presented with a unique opportunity to shape the future of living in this burgeoning district. https://lnkd.in/g--RX28x The strategic location, coupled with a generous plot ratio of 4.6, opens up a myriad of possibilities. Whether it's public housing that fosters community spirit, private condominiums that offer exclusive amenities, or perhaps a blend of both that caters to diverse needs, the key lies in aligning development with the #demand_gap and the #aspirations of the community. . Personally, I hope there are more homes catered to lower-income households so that they can enjoy the same amenities at the same time. As we envision the future of Jurong East, we must consider how residents will integrate living, learning, working, and playing into their daily lives. The concept of long-stay serviced apartments, with their blend of flexibility and stability, could very well complement the existing urban tapestry, catering to both transient and long-term residents. This could help, for instance, provide affordable accommodation for foreign medical workers to ensure our healthcare system continues ticking. However, more layers of data and time are needed to think through the best calibration. Exciting times indeed! P.S.: What can we learn from the downfall of the Tang Dynasty City? What can we do differently now than before? A question that requires deeper pondering.

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We are committed to our ambitious ESG absolute emissions target This latest transaction demonstrates our continous effort to explore new and innovative approaches towards achieving our goals Thanks to OCBC for their creative structuring #ouereit #sustainability #vcc #carboncredit #emissionreduction

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With a big thank you to the All Seasons Place Management team meeting with us yesterday to share market insights and trends - working with clients closely provides better insights and collaboration - this leads to successful outcomes #allseasonsplace #chinaresources #assetmanagement #jllthailand #investorsollutions

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My latest article in Hong Kong Economic Times on the outlook of private housing supply in the next decade. Here are the key points: 1.  Private housing completions in the next five years will tail off after initial highs. Annual completions for 2024 and 2025 will reach over 20,000 units each, then tailing off to around 15,000 to 17,000 units annually. 2. Kowloon City (including Kai Tak), Tai Po, and Sai Kung will be the top three districts with the largest supply in the next five years. Together, they account for more than 40% of all new private housing completions during the period. 3. As land creation enters a “harvest phase”, the Government has greater flexibility to adjust the quantity and pace of land supply. Average annual completions for 2029 to 2033 are expected to be between 14,400 and 18,500 units. #oped #privatehousing #supply #outlook #harvestphase

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